BATTERY PLACEMENT

[SamIam]

I have a Grumman 1436, running 4 batteries. For years I have had the batteries in the stearn space behind the bench set area. I am seriously considering moving the batteries to the center of the boat and align them up the center instead of side to side. I've tested this and found the boat was more stable and sits more level. Just wondering if this was what most of you do or do you have any suggestions...before I rip out the floor & decking to rework it (my winter project).

Any and all input will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Sam

 

[Brine]

Well...I think the key is you've tested it and have seen the benefits. I would guess it's non traditional placement for batteries, as you are moving them to a highly excessible area of the boat which would normally be reserved for tackle etc... Not sure what if any motor you run, but you might get someone to shoot some pics of you in the boat with the batteries in both locations (so long as doing so isn't a chore), and if you normally have someone in the front, that you account for that too.

 

[SamIam]

Well by putting the batteries in the center, the weight is OK for pretty good distribution. Floats level, my tail up front surely will push the front down a bit but with a co-angler in the back it should level back up. I usually have a co in the back but when alone I can always move as needed to level again during any cruise time. Otherwise, just a slow troll as I fish isn't a big deal.

I was curious whether others did this or what....and if anyone had any pointers they may have learned and be willing to share.

I plan to rework my decking (front & rear casting decks now with open storage in the middle) to accomodate decking in the middle too with hatches for storage. Provide spaces for the batteries and onboard chargers plus spaces for tackle & the BS. The aft section where the batteries were also provides storage space or can be used for the gas tank when I run the outboard...which is rare since I usually fish electric only lakes.

Brine, haven't I seen you on GON forum too?

 

[Brine]

Brine, haven't I seen you on GON forum too?

Yep. There are a few of us on here.

The reason I point out the weight distribution, I've heard lots of folks complain about having the boat be nose heavy when using a front trolling motor. Apparently the back end of the boat wants to run circles around the front. If you move the batteries from the back, you may experience this.

 

[Bugpac]

IMO, the more weight on the nose the faster it will go electric only, the key to solving that problem is putting a alum rudder on the back, I have a buddy that has a 2x2 piece of plywood c clamped to his jack plate "Gas motor is not on the boat" And it makes all the difference in the world, I am working on a alum rudder for mine, It will be at least 16" wide "behind the boat" and 12" deep, I plan for it to hinge via one point so if it hits the bottom it will pop up out of the water... Everyone says more weight up front the faster it will go, Some are skeptical, but i have proven it in my boat, Russ010 stood right beside me up front and you could feel the boat actually gain speed..

BTW i am a GON post whore as well...

 

[SamIam]

I generally fish electric only lakes most of the time. So I run a TM front & rear when I need to cruise to get to a spot, then just use the bow TM to fish. Slow speeds, there is no problem of the rear drifting to speak of. Cruising with only a bow TM will make the stearn squirrely sometimes. But with both TM running, it's much better. No additional rudder needed IMO.

Where do you place your batteries? I've kept them in the aft space for years but recently played with moving them to the center and aligned up the center rather than side to side. Sure noticed a lot more stability when you move around in the boat.

Before making any mods to my boat I wanted to ask what others are doing with their batteries and ask for any advice.
I've had to learn too many things the hard way, so I'm learning to ask first now. Any lesson learned, I am always willing to share and help others if they ask.

 

[Bugpac]

My boat with just me in it sits real nose heavy. And i have the most of the batterys in the rear. The front of my boat is much heavier or i should say maybe designed differently than a flat bottom as it is a mod v, so the nose is heavy, I have to agree center would be an ideal location, I have noticed filling my livewell as it sits in the center, adds a bunch of stability to my boat.. My boat is terrible at the stern wanting to come about the bow.. Thus the reason i am adding a rudder, the rear tm seems to have zero rudder effect, even with it clamped in straight position, running full bore the back wants to come around the front.. Makes it harder to steer than id like.. I am seriously considering gutting my entire boat and redecking it, the storage space sux, I would like to add some rod lockers, and at the same time i would put all of my batterys in the center of the boat side to side and for and aft. along with the live well..

 

[SamIam]

With my batteries (4) placed from side to side, the boat has little counterweight I guess. So when I have to lean over to lip a bass, the boat seems to really dip to the side. However, with the batteries aligned up the center front to rear, there is a noticable difference....enough to make me want to rework my decking to accomodate them.

I assume there is no foreseen problems to doing this...which is why I was asking if anyone had anything to warn me about before I do this. #-o

I could just let the batteries sit there exposed but wanted to deck over them with hatches instead....sure don't want to accidently short anything out!!!! :shock:
Plus I'd like to have my batteries secure so some fool don't steal them and/or my charger.....at least make them work for it a little harder!

Not to mention, the batteries sitting in the aft section suffer a lot more bounce and vibration when towing. I had one bounce around and flattened out my drain tube. Bad day at the ramp!
Oh, let me share this with you....to get that drain tube back into shape I used a "plumb bob" from Home Depot ($5 I think), a few taps with a hammer and it was good again. Even fixed the mis-shaped places I messed up trying to fix it with a danged screwdriver at the ramp. Zero leakage.

 

[Bugpac]

Good solution to the problem, I to had to reform my drain, I just used a 3/4 bolt as it was not badly damaged, I sure cant see any reason not to put them in the middle, especially if you tried it out already..

 

[SamIam]

Bug, the battery had beat the crap outa my drain tube, it was flat on the end!
The ole screwdriver kinda helped but the tube was way outa shape and leaked a little around the plug. The plumb bob was great, with the pointed tip it just slid right in and reshaped the alum tube in short order of a few taps from a hammer.....kinda like an extruder.

 

[Bugpac]

Bug, the battery had beat the crap outa my drain tube, it was flat on the end!
The ole screwdriver kinda helped but the tube was way outa shape and leaked a little around the plug. The plumb bob was great, with the pointed tip it just slid right in and reshaped the alum tube in short order of a few taps from a hammer.....kinda like an extruder.

Ya the plumb bob was a genius idea, that is great.. :mrgreen: